Pros:
First Baptist Church of Elyria is now home to the first disc golf course in Elyria, one of the larger suburbs of Cleveland. They have a pretty large swath of land behind the church that is now sprinkled with nine new baskets.
+ Nice course sign right by the first tee that lays out the rules of the course and the course hours. Make sure you only play during the designated times listed both here on DGCR and on the sign.
+ Navigation is about as straightforward as it gets. Tall numbered posts mark the tee area for each hole.
+ There's a nice mix in hole length and variety. Distances range from 181' to 385', which is pretty solid for a par 27 course. A few holes play in the woods, while #8 and #9 are basically bomber holes with a little strategy required.
+ #2 and #8 are mostly open, but are still very fun and well designed.
Cons:
- This is a new course and will need to be broken in. The rough is VERY rough and riddled with poison ivy and thorn bushes.
- A few holes could benefit from some trimming of the branches. The tee shots on #3, #4, and #6 are almost completely blocked by hanging limbs.
- #3 plays back up the same fairway used for #4. Like previously mentioned, this whole fairway needs some branch trimming done.
- Tee pads are all natural, with no kick boards to designate a true tee box.
- The baskets are portable, but chained into the ground. They catch fairly well, but aren't the best on the market for a permanent course.
Other Thoughts:
Lorain County has an improving disc golf scene, and First Baptist Church has expanded that scene into Elyria.
I'm sure I'll be back in the future to see if the course has gotten worn in and cleaned up. For now, it's a 1.5 in my book, but that may change down the road.